Printing-plate holder and clamp



: March 1 1927.

1 w. F. BRUGMANN PRINTING PLATE HOLDER AND CLAMP Filed April 18. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 NW W 2 A G W java/i557" Zyzdmjzr "lira/aka .4-

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Patented Mar. 1, 1927.

WILLIAM F. BRti'GMANN,

OF EVANS'ION, ILLINOIS.

PRINTING-PLATE HOLDER- .AND CLAMP.

Application filed April 18,

One of the primary objects of the present invention is to overcome the inherent diffi culties in the manufacture as well as increasing the speed and eiiiciency in the use of devices of this character.

It is common practice to wash printing plates during the process of printing and infine color work the washing is done more frequently.

Benzine is generally employed for this purpose, with the result that much of the ink washed from the surface of the plates settles in the grooves of the base, gradually clogging the grooves so as to seriously interfere with the operation of the catches.

The present invention is of the type which operates largely in the bottom of the groove. In order to cause the catch to travel easily in spite of the accumulation of ink or other foreign matter, the present invention is designed so as to present a minimum of contact surface between the bottom' of the groove and the catch.- While other means may be adopted to accomplish this end, there is herein shown and illustrated a few of the different styles of groove bottoms, such as a series of ribs, a series of apertures or holes and a herring bone ribbed bottom, and in connection with these diiferent styles of bottom the base or bottoms of the catch .may either be fiat or provided with one or more ribs or projections which support the remaining portions of the catch above the bottom of the groove.

The base is preferably constructed in sections, that is with a bottom section and a top section, the top being secured to the base in any suitable manner. A base thus constructed obviates the diiiicult operation of T slotting, as the base may be cast or forged fairly close to the desired shape after which the top piece may be secured in position, and the ribs or apertures may be formed in the base piece in any suitable manner.

In the use of this improved catch, whether of the unlimited or limited distance type, the operation, follows.

The catch is placed into the groove close to the printing plate and in engagement. with the rack. The operator then pushes the generally described, is asv 1922. Serial No. 555,099.

eter adjustment to finish the clamping operation.

With a limited movement type, constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention and embodying an anchor member which is immovable, the anchor member and catch are first dropped into the groove at the proximate proper place and then after the plate is positioned, the catch is given a micrometer adjustment.

The saving of time by the use of a catch embodying this invention will be apparent to those familiar with the art, as the old style of catch, not being equipped with the ratchet device herein shown, was advanced by the use of a key only which was slow and tedious.

In the arrangement of the grooves in the sections of the base as herein shown and described it will be noted that the long groove extends from corner to corner, and While it is shown as being located exactly in the center, it is obvious that it might be placed slightly to one side. The remaining corners of the base section are cut away to an extent equal to one-half of a groove each, more or less, and with this construction the objectionable feature of having a small portion of the base at the two extreme corners is overcome.

-A further object is to provide an improved construction of this character which will be simple, durable, and comparatively cheap in construction and efiective and efiicient in operation.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new and useful objects as will appear, the invention consists in the features of novelty in substantially the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings illustrating this invention and in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a section of the base showing a printing plate held in position thereon by means of a plurality of clamping catches.

, Figure Qis a sectional view on line 22, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on line 33, Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal, vertical section of one of the catches.

Figure 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5, Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a sectional view on line 6-6, Figure 4:.

Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 77, Figure 4.

Figure 8 is a detail sectional view on line 8-8, Figure 4-, showing a spring retaining attachment.

Figure 9 is a view partly in vertical section and partly in end elevation of one of the'catches seated in one of the grooves and with parts omitted.

Figure 10 is a detail top plan view showing another form of groove bottom.

Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 10 of still another form of groove bottom.

Figure 12 is a top plan view of a limited distance catch.

Figure 13 is a sectional view on line 13-- 18, Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a detail sectional view on line 1e .1 1, Figure 12.

Referring more particularly to the draw ings the reference character A designates generally the base sections which "may be constructed of any desired size and of any suitable material. Each of these sections embodies a bottom portion 15, which is formed in any desired or suitable manner and is provided with a plurality of grooves 16, extending diagonally thereacross and opening through the upper face thereof. The corners 1718 of the bottom section are cut away so as to form faces 1920 which face outwardly.

The top of the base is formed by means of separate members 21, which are provided with racks 22 on the opposite edges thereof, these racks may be formed in any suitable .manner and the teeth of the racks are preferably inclined as shown.

The members 21 together with the racks 22 on the edges thereof are adapted to be secured to the top of the base in any suit able manner and the width of the portions 21 with the racir teeth 22 may be such that the rack teeth will overhang the respective grooves in the base.

The rack or teeth upon the members 23 which are secured to the base adjacent the faces 19 and 20, will be disposed on the outer wall of said faces so that when a plurality of base sections are assembled as shown in Figural, the cut away port-ions 1718 together with the respective faces 19 and 20 will cooperate with similar portions on the adjacent block sections to form continuous grooves.

The bottoms of the gooves 16 may be formed in any suitable manner and as shown in Figure 1 spaced ribs 2% are formed therein so as to provide openings between adja cent ribs, which openings are adapted to receive ink and foreign matter washed irom the plates and which may be deposited in the grooves, and by receiving these particles between the ribs it will be manifest that the advancing movement of the catches within the groove will not be interfered with.

These openings in the base of the grooves may be formed also by means of a series of closely arranged apertures 25 as shown in Figure 10, or the ribs may be, arranged in a herring bone shape as shown in Figure 11. While in the present illustration of the invent-ion the top members 21 are shown as being provided with racks on the opposite edges thereof so that the grooves 16 will be provided with racks along both of their side walls, it is of course to be understood that the racks may be omitted from one of the sides of the members 21 and if desired the racks may be formed directly in either one or both of the side walls of the grooves. NVith this construction of base the cost of manufacture will be greatly decreased as the bottom portion of the base may be forged or cast to approximately the size that it is desired, after which the top member may be secured in position so as to produce the desired width of groove.

A catch is adapted to be moved in these grooves and the catch consists essentially of a body portion 27, which is preferably of a length somewhat greater than the width thereof, the bottom of the body portion 27 bein provided with one or more ribs 28 depending therefrom and which rib is adapted to have a bearing upon the bottom of the groove. If desired the groove bottoms may be recessed as at 29 to receive the corners or edges of the body 27 of the catch. This arrangement, it will be seen, supports a greater portion of the bottom of the catch above the base of the groove and thereby reduces the contact surface between them.

If desired the rib 28 may be omitted and the bottom of the catch may be shaped as shown in Figure 9, that is so that the intermediate portion 30 of the base of the catch will be elevated to form ears or ribs 31, which are adapted to engage in the recesses or cut away portions 29.

Carried by the body 27 of the catch is a plate clamping element 32, usual in devices of this character, and this element 32 is swiveled upon the top of the catch so that it may be properly positioned to engage the edge of the printing plate 33.

A gear 34 is rotatably mounted, preferably adjacent one end of the body 27 and on an upright axis. The gear 3-1 is.so arranged with respect to the body 27 that one wall of the body will be substantially flush with the periphery of the gear while the other wall of the body is disposed for a substantial distance within the periphery of'the gear so that the teeth of the gear on one side of the body will project therebeyond so as to permit the teeth of the gear 34 to engage the rack 22 when the catch body is seated in the grooves 16.

A-worm is disposed beneath the gear 34 and the axis thereof coincides with the axis of the gear 34, the gear 34 and worm 35 being adapted to be connected so as to rotate together and to be disconnected so that the gear 34 may be rotated independently of the worm 35.

To that end any suitable connecting means may be provided but a simple and etlicient means embodies a screw 36, which is connected by one end with the gear 34 and passes through the worm 35, the head 37 of the screwbeing disposed in a recess 38 in the worm 35. This recess'38 is of a substantial depth to receive a spring 39 which encompasses the screw 36, one end of the spring resting against. the head 37 of the screw,

while the other-end of the spring engages the bottom 40 of the recess 38.

The gear 34 is provided with a clutch element 41, while'the worm 35 is provided with co-operating clutch elements 42, and

these clutch elements 4142 are adapted to be controlled by the spring 39, that is to say the spring 39 tends normally to hold the clutch elements 4l42 in co-operative relation but, when the gear 34 is rotated independently of the worm the clutch elements 4142 will yield with respect to each other so as to permit such independent movement of the gear 34 and the clutch elements will then operate as ratchet members.

The worm 35 is preferably journaled in a portion of the body 27.

Arranged also within the body 27 is'a worm wheel 43 which meshes with the worm 35, the axis of the worm gear 43 is disposed transverse to the axis of the worm 35. A spiral gear 44 is connected with the worm wheel 43 for rotation therewith and the axes of the worm wheel 43 and spiral gear 44 coincide. These two gear elements are rotatably supported by means of a partition 45, one oneach side of the partition, and the axes of the worm gear 43 and spiral gear 44 are inclined to the longitudinal diameter of the body portion 27 of the catch, so that the gears 43-44 will be disposed entirely within the confines of the side walls of the body portion 27, the gears being arranged within recesses 4647 in the body portion. By arranging these gears 4344 in this manner it will be manifest that the width of the body portion 27 may be reduced to a minimum.

A spiral gear 48 is. also disposed within the body portion 27 to rotate about an upright axis and this spiral gear 48 meshes with the spiral gear 44, the gear 48 being provided with a suitable angular recess 49, which is adapted to receive atool or implement by means of which the gear 48 may be rotated and thus transmit motion to the spiral 44, the worm gear 43, worm 35 and gear 34, which latter meshes with the rack 22, so as to effect a micrometer adjustment.

The gear 48 is suitably journaled in the.

body 27 but there is preferably provided a bearing member 50 which is removably seated within a recess 51 and against which .member 50 the gear 48 has a bearing- This member 50 may be held removably in position in any desired or suitable manner such as by means of a fastening screw 52, to which latter access may be readily had when it is desired to remove the gear 48.

lVith this construction it will be seen that the. catch may be seated or dropped into the groove 16 at any point throughout the length thereof and while the catch is entirely seated within the groove the operator may freely shove the same forwardly in a direction lengthwise of the groove. This operation will be permitted by reason of the fact that the gear 34 will ratchet with respect to the worm 35 until the catch has beenmoved to 1 a position in close proximity to the plate. A micrometer adjustment to finish theoperation and securely clamp the plate upon the base may then be ei'l'ected through the me dium of the tool or implement inserted in the socket 49 of the gear 48 to rotate the latter.

The worm 35 and gear 34 will be held seated against accidental displacement with respect to the body portion 27 by means of the Worm gear 43 which meshes with the worm 35.

If desired, and as a means for temporarily holding the catch within the groove 16, so

as to prevent the same from rising, but.

which will readily yield to permit the catch to be removed, any suitable temporary "fastening means may be provided, such for instance as a spring'which may be in the form of a yoke 53 secured by means of a suitable fastening device 54 (see particularly Figure 8) to the top of the catch, thearms of the yoke being provided with shoulders 55. adaptedto pass under the overhanging edge or edges of the .top members 21 of the base However, when it'is desired to remove ber 56 so that when the gear 59 is rotated preferably by means of an implement being seated within an angular socket 62 of the gear 59, the shaft 61 will be'rotated and/the catch member 57 and anchor member 56 will be relatively adjusted one with relation to the other when one of these elements is re strained against movement.

The anchor member 56 is preferably provided with spring controlled pawls 63, which are adapted to project beyond the side walls of the anchor member so as to engage racks or teeth 64: arranged along the walls of the groove 16 so as to permit the anchor member together with the catch member 57 to be freely moved in one direction when both of the members 56-57 are seated in the groove but the pawls 63 will co-operate with the racks 64: to lock the anchor member against movement in the opposite direction and during the time that a micrometer adjustment, or adjustment of the catch mem ber 57 with respect to the anchor member 56 isbeing effected by the rotation of the gear 59 in the manner already described.

The bottom of the anchor membe is preferably shaped to form ribs 65 which in turn are adapted to be seated in recesses or.

grooves 66 in the ribs 2% or bottom of the grooves and thereby not only reduce friction between the parts but the free movement of the catch within the'groove will not be interfered with by reason of the accumulation of any dirt or foreign matter in the bottom of the groove.

While in this form of the invention the anchor member 56 is restrained in its movement in one direction by reason of the yielding pawls 63, it is of course to be understood that the anchor member may be restrained against movement in any suitable manner as the pawls instead of being yielding may be rigid projections. r

It will be manifest that with each of the forms ofthis invention the catch may be inserted in the groove at any pointthroughout the length of the groove thereby rendering it possible to place the catch in approximately the position to clamp the plate after which the micrometer adjustment may be made, and it will also be manifest that the clamp remains entirely seated in the groove during the adjustment thereof and it is not necessary to hold a portion of the clamp out of the groove until it is positioned to approximately the point of use and then seat the clamp in the groove as has heretofore been. done with clamps of this character. The present clamp, after it is once seated in the groove remains seated throughout the entire operation thereof until it is desired to remove the clamp entirely from the groove.

In the forms'of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 11, and by the provision of the gear 34: which projects only beyond one side of the body 27, and also by the provision of the racks along both of the sidewalls of the groove it Wlll be manifest that when the the side walls butby the provision of the.

rack on both of the side walls it is possible to turn the catch completely around and in that event the gear 34 will engage the rack.

on the opposite wall.

It is obvious that instead of providing the bottom of the catch 27 with the ribs 28 so as to hold the catch elevated above the bottom of the groove, a rib 67. (see Figure 3) may be provided on the bottom of the giroove and the bottom of the catch may be While the preferred forms of the inventionhave been herein shown and described it is to be understood that various changes may be made in the details of construction and in the'combination and arrangement of the several parts, within the scope of the claims, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

What is claimed as new is I r 1. A base having agroove therein, a plate clamping catch adapted to be seated in said groove and freely advanced while entirely seated. in the groove, and means for restrain.- ing the catch against retrograde movement.

2. A base having a groove therein, a plate clamping catch adaptedto be seated in said groove and. freely advanced while entirely seated in the groove, means for restraining the catch against retrograde movement, and

means carried with the catch for further advancing the catch. 7

3. A base having a groove therein, a plate clamping catch adapted to be seated in said groove and freely advanced while. entirely seated in the groove, and ratchet mechanism for restraining the catch against retrograde movement.

%l. A basehaving a groove therein, a plate clamping catch adapted tobe seated in said groove and freely advanced while entirely seated in the groove, means for restraining the catch against retrograde movement, and

driving mechanism carried with the catch and movable with the plate clamping jaw for further advancing the catch. 7

A base having a groove therein, arack advanced while entirely seated in the groove,

means for locking the catch against retro grade movement, and means carried with the catch for causing a further and micrometer adjustment of the catch.

7. A base having a groove therein, a plate clamping catch adapted to be seated in said groove and freely advanced while entirely seated in the groove, and means for restraining the catch against retrograde movement, the said means embodying ratchet mechanism carried entirely by the catch.

8. A base having a groove therein, a plate clamping catch adapted to be seated in said groove and freely advanced while entirely seated in the groove, means for restraining the catch against retrograde movement, and means carried with the catch for effecting a micrometer adjustment, the last recited means embodying gear mechanism carried with the catch, driving. means for the gears, and ratchet mechanism included in the gear mechanism.

9. A base having a groove therein, a plate clamping catch adapted to be seated in said groove and freely advanced while entirely seated in the groove, means for restraining the catch against retrograde movement, and means carried with the catch for effecting a micrometer adjustment, the last recited means embodying gear mechanism carried with the catch, driving means for the gears, ratchet mechanism included in the gear mechanism, and a rack along one side of the groove and with which rack one of the said gears co-operates.

10. A base having a groove therein, a rack along one side of the groove, a plate clamping catch adapted to be seated in the groove and freely moved while entirely seated and means carried with the catch for effecting a micrometer adjustment, the said means embodying a gear adapted to engage the rack, a driving gear, means whereby the driving gear may be actuated, and interposed gear connection between the first recited gear and the said driving gear, and ratchet mechanism operating to permit the rack engaging gear to operate independently of the remaining gears whenthe catch is freely moved in the groove.

11. A base having a groove therein, a rack along one side of the groove, a plate clamping catch adapted to be seated in the groove and freely moved while entirely seated and means carried with the catch for effecting a micrometer adjustment, the said means embodying a gear adapted to engage the rack, a driving gear, means whereby the driving gear may be actuated, and interposed gear connection between the lirst recited gear and the said driving gear, and ratchet mechanism operating to permit the rack engaging gear to operate independently of the remaining gears when the catch is freely moved in the groove, the said ratchet mechanism also operating to lock the catch against retrograde movement.

12. A base having a groove therein, a rack along one side wall of the groove, a plate clamping catch movable in the groove, a gear carried with the catch and engaging the rack, a driving gear, gear connection between the first recited gear and the said driving gear, said connection embodying two gears rotatable about the same axis, the axes of said connected gears being disposed transverse to the axes of the first recited gear and the said driving gear, one of the said connected gears meshing with the said driving gear, and gear connection between the other of the said connected gears and the rack engaging gear.

13. A base having a groove therein, a rack along one side wall of the groove, a plate clamping catch movable in the groove, a gear carried with the catch and engaging the rack, a driving gear, gear connection between the first recited gear and the said driving gear, said connection embodying two gears rotatable about the same axis, the axes of said connected gears being disposed transverse to the axes of the first recited gear and the said driving gear, one of the said connected gears meshing with the said driving gear, gear connection between the other of the said connected gears and the rack engaging gear, and ratchet mechanism operating to permit the rack engaging gear to rotate independently of the other gears.

14. A base having a groove therein, a plate clamping catch adapted to be seated in said groove and freely advanced while entirely seated in the groove, means for restraining the catch against retrograde movement, and yielding means for temporarily restraining the catch within the groove.

15. A base having a groove therein, a plate clamping catch adapted to be seated in the groove and advanced therein, one of the adjacent faces of the bottom of the catch and the said. groove within the confines of the lateral faces of the catch being provided with a reduced bearing surface against the other.

'16. A printing plate clamp embodying a body portion, a propelling gear carried therewith, a driving gear, and interposed gears connecting the driving and propelling gears, said interposed gears embodying two operatively connected gears having coinciding axes, the said axes being disposed transverse to the axes of the said propelling and driving gears and inclined with respect to the longitudinal diameter of the said body portion.

17. A printing plate clamp embodying a body portion, a propelling gear carried therewith, a driving gear, and interposed gears connecting the driving and propelling gears, said interposed gears embodying two operatively connected gears having coincidin axes the said axes bein dis osed transverse to the axes of the said propelling and driving gears and inclined with respect to the longitudinal diameter of the said body portion, the said connected interposed gears being disposed entirely within the confines of the sides of the said body portion.

18. A printing plate clamp emboijlying a body portion, a propelling gear carried therewith, a driving gear, and interposed gears connecting the driving and propelling gears, said interposed gears embodying two operatively connected gears having coinciding axes, the said axes being disposed transverse to the axes of the said propelling and driving gears and inclined with respect to the longitudinal diameter of the said body portion, one of the said connected gears being operatively connected with the said driving gear and the other of the said connected gears being operatively connected with the said propelling gear.

19. A base having a groove therein, a plate clamping catch adapted to be seated in said groove at any point throughout the length of the groove and adapted to be freely advanced while entirely seated in the groove, means for imparting a micron'ieter adjustment to the catch, and means for restraining the catch against retrograde movement.

20. In a printing plate holder the combination of a plate clamp adapted to be freely moved forward, means for preventing retrograde movement of the clamp, and

means for effecting micrometer adjustments of said clamp.

21. In a printing plate holder the combination of a foundation member, a printing plate clamp associated with said memher and adapted to be freely moved forward while seated upon the said member, means for preventing retrograde movement of. the clamp, and means for effecting micrometer adjustment of the said clamp.

22. A base having a groove therein, a plate clamping catch adapted to be seated in the groove and advanced therein, one of the adjacent faces of the bottom of the catch and of the groove beingprovided with a rednced portion forming a projecting rib bearing against the other face, said rib extending in a general direction lengthwise of the catch.

23. A base having a groove therein, a

plate clamping catch adapted to be seated in the groove and advanced therein, one of the adjacent faces of the bottom of the catch and of the groove being provided with a reduced portion forming a projecting. rib

bearing against the other face, said rib being disposed substantially centrally with respect to the lateral faces of the catch and extend- WILLIAM F. .BRUGMANN. 

